Without a doubt, St. Maarten is becoming a very popular destination for those who would like to experience a holiday in the Caribbean. It is also a very famous island for the number of cruises it welcomes every single day.
It is fairly normal to see a massive cruise that will dock in the morning, then the tourists will descend the ship and go to explore the island. Whenever night is coming, tourists are encouraged to go back to the ship as they will soon leave again.
But there is also another reason why St. Maarten is becoming popular, especially since social media has been showing around the images of a specific part of the island called Maho beach.
And the reason is, place spotters are in love with this tiny spot of the island, as they are able to witness some huge planes ascending and descending the skies.
So, have you booked your flight to St. Maarten? Are you considering going to Maho beach?
Have the answer to all of your questions right here, continue reading and discover this amazing – and unique – Caribbean destination.
In a Hurry and need to know the best time for Maho Beach?
The best time to spot big airplanes is between 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, as most of the 747’s and Airbus will come and go around this time.
Why St. Maarten?
St. Maarten is a Caribbean island that is divided into two parts: a Dutch part and a French part. Its capital is called Philipsburg, and the whole island has a population of around 70,000 individuals.
Why is Maho beach so special?
Even though Maho beach is only a small stretch of white beach, it is definitely one of the top attractions of the island. It tends to attract visitors for different reasons, but the main one is that this beach is conveniently located at the western side of the Princess Juliana International Airport’s runway.
In other words, you will have a great experience seeing the airplanes arriving and leaving this destination. In fact, did you know that the airplanes will be landing just a few yards from you?
Another reason why tourists like Maho beach is due to its sunsets. Many people claim these sunsets are best viewed from this part of the island, and I’m not going to have a debate on that one, as I genuinely think this is the best view as well (even though it will be disrupted by the airplanes sometimes).
If you would like to see a Boeing literally flying a few yards above your head, then you should head to this island between 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, as most of the 747’s and Airbus will come and go around this time.
How to get from the Cruise Terminal to Maho Beach
Are you visiting St Maarten just for a day (or two) during your cruise and do you want to check out Maho Beach? This is how you get there from the cruise terminal.
You can choose to go by taxi, going with a group from the terminal, to rent a car or catch public transport.
Taking a taxi or private transport with a group will cost you about $20 to $30 USD. It’s the easiest way, but also pretty expensive.
Renting a car is a good option if you are planning to stay on St Maarten for at least a couple of days and you want to explore more spots on the island.
Your last option is catching public transport. I like this option since you’ll get the local experience and you save some money. You’ll be spending $5 USD for a return ticket.
Make sure you disembark from your cruise as early as possible to be able to spend the most amount of time on the beautiful island. Walk from the cruise terminal to Philipsburg, which will take you approximately 10 minutes.
From the center of Philipsburg, you’ll have to take the minibus to Maho Beach. There are buses passing by pretty often, so it won’t be a very long wait.
To return from the beach to Philipsburg, you’ll have to follow the same route back. Look for the minibus saying ‘Philipsburg’. The trip will take about 30 minutes each way, plus 10 minutes walking from Philipsburg back to the terminal.
What about Maho’s beach climate?
The climate in this island is maritime and tropical, this means that temperatures will only fluctuate slightly throughout the year. Even though the island is located in the northern hemisphere, you will still be able to enjoy sunshine pretty much all year round.
There is a distinction between the summer months and winter months. Summer months go from June to August and you can expect the temperature to rise up to 34°C and the low temperature can reach 27° C.
During winter months you can expect temperatures to go up to 27°C and the lowest will be around 20°C, which is still quite good, especially since you may experience a hard winter back home.
There is also a dry and rainy season. The dry season usually goes from January to August, whereas the rainy season can go from September to November. So, if you happen to go during the rainy season is all good as well, as rain usually fades away quickly. Don’t worry about it!
Highlights of Maho beach
Keep in mind that even though Maho Beach is famous for the coming and going of airplanes, you will also be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful and breathtaking beaches on earth.
Also, keep this tip in mind whenever you go to Maho Beach: try to avoid the days when cruise ships are docked in the port, as you will feel even more crowded and the cruise ships will take away a fantastic view!
You can walk to Maho Beach from the cruise port, but it will definitely be better to take a taxi as it can get very hot quickly.
It is also possible to stay at a nearby place from Maho Beach. You have the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, which is a walking distance from the famous Maho Beach. This hotel is an all-inclusive resort so you will not have to worry about anything else, simply take your bikini out and you are ready to go on holiday!
In my experience…
I have spoken to many tourists who have been to St. Maarten – and of course – to Maho beach and we all seem to reach different conclusions about when is the best time to visit this island.
I was genuinely surprised when they would tell me that the best time to visit was from December to late March. If you would like my honest opinion, I think St. Maarten has the advantage of being an all-year-round destination, thus you can go whenever you feel like going!
Of course, there are some undeniable perks that come with traveling during the offseason (which goes from mid-April until mid-December). You will be able to find a discount on almost all the shops on the island, but you will also find really good deals on hotel rooms.
So, to me, now is the best option for you. In other words, the best time to visit Maho Beach and St. Maarten is whenever you feel ready to go. Of course, you can take advantage of the discounted rates, but you can also go during high-season and have a great time on the island!
It is all relative to what you want for your holiday!
Last few words of advise
If you would like to have a really good view of the incoming and outgoing airplanes, then I would recommend you to sit down and enjoy your drink at one of the few restaurants and bars that are located on this beach.
Expect a lot of sand to be blown on you, as the air (and the noise!) that these airplanes make is incredibly huge! This is why I will always recommend you to watch over your belongings, and maybe even put your electronic equipment in special plastic bags in order to avoid any damage.
Also, if you are wearing a hat, get hold of it tightly! I have seen so many hats that have been flown away, and it is too funny not to laugh when this happens! You have been warned!
And if you don’t feel like spending your whole day at Maho Beach, you can always go during the specific times I have previously mentioned in this article.
What’s more, there is a bar there named The Sunset Bar, inside the place you will find a chalkboard with all of the relevant flight schedules for the day. You can always go and have a look around, and if you would like, you can do other activities first and then head towards Maho Beach.
Whatever you decide to do, don’t skip this part of the island thinking it’s a waste of time to see an airplane come and go. In fact, it is quite a unique and interesting sight that you will not be able to see anywhere else in the world. You’re welcome!
